Top Thoroughbred action in New York returns to Belmont Park for the fall meet with 21 graded stakes beginning Sept. 8.
Recent Saratoga grade I winners To Honor and Serve (Woodward), Emcee (Forego), Point of Entry (Sword Dancer), Emma's Encore (Prioress), and Love and Pride (Personal Ensign,) are all likely to return to stakes at Belmont. Other top performers expected to remain in New York are Mucho Macho Man , It's Tricky, and Shackleford , as well as juvenile stars such as Kauai Katie, Spurious Precision, and Bern Identity.
The featured event on opening day of the fall meet is the $200,000 Bowling Green Handicap (gr. IIT) on the turf.
The New York Racing Association is offering free grandstand admission on opening weekend. Clubhouse admission will be offered at the reduced price of $2 during as well.
The centerpiece of Belmont’s 37-day meet is "Super Saturday" on Sept. 29, highlighted by the 94th running of the $1 million TVG Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr. I). The 1 ¼-mile race is supported by four additional grade I events: the $600,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational, the $600,000 Flower Bowl Invitational for fillies and mares on the turf, the $400,000 Beldame Invitational for fillies and mares on the main track, and the $400,000 Vosburgh Invitational for sprinters. Also on the card is $400,000 Kelso Handicap (gr. II) at a mile on the main track.
All the Super Saturday graded stakes races are Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” races, which means the winners earn automatic entry into the corresponding Breeders’ Cup races, to be held at Santa Anita Park Nov. 2-3.
The following weekend offers up-and-coming juveniles four more “Win and You’re In” races for the Breeders’ Cup. On Oct. 6, 2-year-olds compete in the $400,000 Foxwoods Champagne (gr. I) and the $400,000 Frizette (gr. I) for juvenile fillies. Also on October 6 is the $400,000 Jamaica (gr. IT) for 3-year-olds on the turf.
On Oct. 7, the $150,000 Pilgrim (gr. IIIT) and the $150,000 Miss Grillo (gr. IIIT) for fillies, both on the turf, are offered.
New York-breds get their chance to shine on New York Showcase Day Oct. 20, with seven stakes for the top horses bred in the Empire State, capped by the $250,000 Empire Classic.
The schedule for most the meet is for live racing Wednesdays through Sundays, with a first race post time of 1 p.m. ET.
Belmont Park
